about

South Carolina Center for Integrative Medicine exists as an option for patients that want a different health care experience. Our appointments are longer than most are used to because we want to work with you to figure out how we can reach your health goals. We're not just here to give you a pill to fix your ill, we're here to figure out why you are not feeling well and then work out what steps we can take to get you to where you want to be. It might not be easy but the rewards are worth it! We look forward to helping you on your journey to health. Please take a moment to read the stories of our practitioners below.

practitioners

KIMBERLY SHIRK, PA-C

Kim is a wife and mother to 4 adorable girls and one little boy. From as young as she can remember she’s always wanted to work in healthcare. At age five she was fixated on becoming a doctor. While pursuing her Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Marist College she decided that becoming a Physician Assistant would allow her to spend more time with her patients and help them address their health needs. Kim went on from Marist to get her Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Sciences from Saint Francis University. Kim has been practicing as a Physician Assistant in the traditional medical setting in both ENT and Pediatric Urgent Care since 2008. She became interested in holistic/nutritional medicine when she became pregnant with her second daughter. During this time she also began to realize that there was something missing in main stream medicine, a large piece of the puzzle that was failing to get people well. When the planned homebirth of her first daughter resulted in a hospital delivery four weeks early due to her water breaking, she knew her body was lacking the nutrients it needed to carry her baby full term. Kim was determined to have a natural, unmedicated homebirth with her second daughter. She began a personally tailored clinical nutrition program under a Nutrition Response Testing practitioner very early in her pregnancy and had an easy, full term pregnancy and the homebirth she so desired.

Kim has also seen the dramatic results a functional medicine approach can have first hand on her husband. When Kim’s husband suffered from back pain and left leg numbness due to an injury that resulted in a bulging disk in his spine, he sought out the care of a holistic practitioner. After being on his own unique clinical nutrition program and making some dietary changes not only did his back pain and leg numbness resolve, but he began to lose weight and feel better than he has in years. Kim is continuously amazed at how quickly her patients feel better, look healthier, and recover from illnesses.

Lauren Rosa, PA-C

Lauren Rosa, PA-C

Lauren is a certified Physician Assistant (PA) working to cultivate optimal health in a holistic and personalized way. She feels her patient relationships, communication, and trust are most important when fostering sustainable wellness. Lauren believes the body has a divinely innate ability to heal itself. Therefore, it imperative to support the whole body in healing and to nourish each aspect - physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, genetic, and environmental. Lauren listens and addresses each concern while looking deeper into root causes of ailments rather than just the symptoms. She values patient education, health responsibility, and finding your own intuitive body-mind connection.

Lauren graduated from Stonehill College with a major in Health Sciences and went on to receive her master’s degree at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Lauren is a certified aromatherapist and a certified Reiki master. She teaches healing focused yoga at SCCIM. In her personal time Lauren enjoys yoga, cooking, hiking, canoeing, camping, traveling, and laughing with loved ones as often as possible.

Dr. Nicole Edwards, DO is a graduate of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine of NY Institute of Technology in Old Westbury, New York. She did her residency at Palmetto Health/USC School of Medicine and has been practicing medicine in Columbia, SC ever since. She isn't currently accepting new patients but may see you if you come in for a sick visit.